Before you do

January 5th, 2012 by Esther Andrew


“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20. This is my prayer for you this year. That with God you would see your wildest dreams come to pass and even more!

I believe that the key to walking in the fullness that God has for us this year is the time we spend in His presence. In that place we find all that we need in abundance. In His presence there is vision and direction for your own life and for your ministry. It is a place where sorrow is exchanged for joy, hopelessness for faith and confusion for wisdom. It is a place of pure intimacy with God. There is an invitation addressed to you to enter in.

In Exodus 25 we read about the instructions for the building of the tabernacle. The first instruction the Lord gives Moses is to build the Ark of the Covenant. It would have made sense to first built the tabernacle to house the Ark, however God was very clear that the Ark was to be made first. He wanted a place to be built where His presence could dwell. Even here in ancient Israel, we see God placing such an importance on His presence being our highest priority.

When building the Ark God instructs for poles to be attached. This was so it could be transported. The Israelites took the Ark with them through battles and into victories, when conquering towns and taking land.

“Make poles from acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.” Exodus 25:13-14

In our lives, God did not intend for His presence to be kept within the four walls of our churches, nor in our bedrooms or prayer closets. However His heart is that we would take it with us, through the market place, into schools and workplaces. God is calling us to be carriers of His presence.

The Bible says to seek first the Kingdom of God. This year, 2012, I want to be found seeking Him first, seeking His presence first and ministering out of the overflow.

This world could pass away, all that we have could disappear, however as long as we have His presence we will still have more than enough and walk in abundance.

Today and throughout this year, He wants to rest in you. I challenge you to build yourself a place to meet with His presence before anything else. Because in that place you will find all that you need. The invitation has your name on it; will you respond to the call and enter in?

Hungry Kids

November 1st, 2011 by Paul Orton

Children’s story books have always amazed me. In complete simplicity, there is often a message so profound (1 Corinthians 1:27- ”But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise”). I was looking at one of the all time classic children’s books, ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ recently, when God began to speak to me about growth.

Kids always have an appetite for more. I always think back to this classic line from the musical film Oliver!; ”Please sir, can I have some more?”. Through the faith of a child, Oliver had an expectation for more.

As a Children’s Pastor, each week I witness kids who walk into the church hungry. Hungry to learn, to be loved, encouraged, accepted and challenged. In every child there’s a hunger for more. The truth is, just like ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’, our children are consuming anything and everything that’s placed in their path.

As children’s leaders we must recognise:

Children consume anything within reach

The Very Hungry Caterpillar begins his journey devouring anything in sight! Young children are eating machines, they don’t care what it is, but it will soon end up in their mouth. The early years really are a crucial time for us as parents and leaders to sow the things of God into our children’s lives. Never let a week go by without challenging your kids to learn a memory verse. This can even be introduced as the child is learning to read or it can be memorised through song. What is sown at this early age will never be lost or forgotten. Also, don’t become too controlling over their development. Our kids will grow even when they consume those things which are unhealthy. As a kid I drank a lot of soft drink (Soda). My mum would buy this stuff by the gallon. Did it stop me from growing? No, but it probably wasn’t great for my chompers… We can be certain that as we sow and as we water, that our God stimulates the growing process. God will convict, discipline and love our kids in ways we never could.

Growth occurs in the secret place

We follow the caterpillar to a place where he wraps himself up into a cocoon. Here is the place where the amazing transformation occurs! Don’t get frustrated if you’re not seeing a change in a particular child. There may be some kids in your church who may be regularly disruptive or appear disinterested. Don’t give up!  Ask the Holy Spirit for a key to release this child’s expectation. They may simply have a different learning style that you need to include as you lead from the front. We must never lost heart after those Sunday’s where you couldn’t seem to engage a particular child.  Just like the caterpillar in the cocoon, it’s former appearance is just a glimpse of what’s to come. Significant transformation occurs in the secret place, and it’s only God that can operate on the heart. We must lead our kids into a place of dependency on God, not on ourselves. It’s never our responsibility to grow the seed, that responsibility is God’s alone.

A transformed child is free to be themselves

We all know the ending to this story… What was fat, green and hairy, soon transformed into something beautiful! What used to crawl awkwardly on it’s stomach soon glided gracefully through the sky, spreading it’s wings.

We recently had our team discipleship, where we meet to worship, share and connect as a family. As we begin every discipleship in worship, I felt it was only fair on my team that we should be led by someone who could actually hold an audible tune (I’ve learnt very quickly when not to lead). So I asked our Youth Pastor if we could join with the youth team for worship before we broke off into our different rooms. He was more than happy to include our kids team, so we joined in. After the worship, with tears in his eyes, our Youth Pastor thanked each member of our team for what they’ve sown into the life of our kids. He began to share that the teens who graduate from our kids ministry stand out amongst the rest of the teens who attend their programs. He also shared that although we may not see the fruit of what we’ve sown, they do.

The truth is, that they are seeing a group of teens who have been transformed in secret. Kids who have not only gone through the outward changes of growth and development, but have clearly been transformed into a life which glorifies God.

As kids leaders we may never see the other side of a life transformed, but know this, God is at work in the heart of every child as we teach, disciple, encourage and love. Remember, our role is to keep them hungry, but in the end God transforms. If we lead, they feed. Then God does the rest in the secret place.

Know Your Flock

September 19th, 2011 by Paul Orton



“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds” (Proverbs 27:23 NLT)

To care for your flock is to know your flock. How well do we know those in our care? We care for them on Sunday’s, but do they hear our voice during the week?

In John 10 Jesus talks about being a shepherd of the flock.

“After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:4 NLT)

How well does your flock know your voice? Is it a consistent voice in their lives, a voice they feel secure in following?

As shepherds of the flock God has entrusted to us, our main objective must go beyond simply building friendships but disciples. To create disciples, our voice must repeat what the Father is saying, allowing our voice to train them to recognize the voice of the Father.

“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.” (1 5:2 NLT)

When we get the revelation that we are shepherds and not temporary hired hands, we won’t think twice about laying down our lives for those entrusted to us. Our care won’t come out of heaviness, but out of a revelation of God working in us.

God doesn’t count the times we’ve been too busy or forgotten to contact those in our care. He doesn’t force you to make up for those times you didn’t reach for the phone. That pressure comes from a works mentality. If that was the case we’d all fail. We serve a God of relationship, not a God of ticks & crosses. The weight of our many crosses were removed on His cross.

This week be a voice to your flock, led by His voice. Led under grace (“For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:30), not by works (pressure).

A walk on the wild side

July 9th, 2011 by Paul Orton

This is a crack up. You can’t say God doesn’t have a sense of humour! If only animals could talk…

Final Volunteer Ad

June 20th, 2011 by Paul Orton

This was our final volunteer ad of the series. We received some really positive feedback, not only from a stack of interested volunteers in our church, but also from our Planetshakers media team! Children’s ministry should be challenging the media guys in the big church!

The most talented leaders will never shout it out on the rooftops. This series was only made possible when I drove one of our young leaders home one day and discovered he’s actually making his own film! I knew he could do some cool stuff, but I had never heard his heart before. Thanks Tom!

More to come soon…